Age

Age discrimination involves treating an applicant or employee less favorably because
of his or her age.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids age discrimination against
people who are age 40 or older. It does not protect workers under the age of 40. Discrimination
can occur when the victim and the person who inflicted the discrimination are both
over 40. The State of Florida does not have a minimum age requirement before receiving
protection against age discrimination. Florida extends age discrimination protection
to an individual at any age.

Age Discrimination & Work Situations

The law prohibits discrimination in any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing,
pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, benefits, and any other term or
condition of employment.

Age Discrimination & Harassment

It is unlawful to harass a person because of his or her age.

Harassment can include, for example, offensive or derogatory remarks about a person's
age. Although the law does not prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated
incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent
or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results
in an adverse employment decision (such as the target of the harassment being fired
or demoted).

The harasser can be the target’s supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker,
or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.